Fluid pressure operated continuous rotary machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l A. L. DE LEEUW Sept. 8, 1931.

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CONTINUOUS ROTARY MACHINE Original Filed Dec.

l:'l lr nu un IIIII nventor g Y (Itter-neg Sept. 8, 1931.

A. L. DE LEEUW FLUID PRESURE OPERATED CONTINUOUS ROTARY MACHINE OriginalFiled Dec.

'7, 1926 l4`Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor Bg Moa@ Sept. 8, 1931. A. L. DELEEUW lzzam! FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CONTINUOUS ROTARY MACHINE OriginalFiled Dec. 7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :Snventor Gtorneg SePt- 8, 1931- A.L. DE LEEUW 1,822,691

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CONTINUOUS ROTARY MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 7,1926 4 Sheets-SheetI 4 I :inventor W 5 @.zww

Gttorneg Patented Sept. 8, 1931 ADOLIH'. L. DE LEEUW, OF PLAINFIELD, NEWJERSEY FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED CONTINUOUS ROTARY 1928. Serial Theinvention disclosed herein relat-es t-o improvements in machine toolsand as specifically illustrated herein, of the type commonly known ascontinuous rotary machines. lhe subject matter of this invention isdescribed and illustrated in a copending application Serial No.. 153,177filed December 7, 1926, of which this is a divisional application. Thepresent invention is concerned particularly with the novel structure andarrangement of the elements of a machine of this general type comprisingan adaption and the incorporation therein of a hydraulic system fortranslation of the working spindles. A common construction of a machineof this type usually comprises broadly a large rotary head supported oua vertical column and adapted to rotate continuously but slowly thereon.The head carries with it a plurality ot' rotatable spindles adapted alsoto receive a vertical movement relative to the head as it rotates. Awork table is designed to rotate with the-head and to carry stockthereon so petitioned as to be acted on by the respective tools. Aseries of operations may be automatically performed on each piece of`stock in order so that upon a complete rotation of the head and tablethe machining operation is complete. The rotation is slow and usuallydoes not necessitate stopping of the machine for changing the stock asthe spindles slowly revolve before the workman.

Many of the advantages of fluid pressure operating means are well knownand such means have been variously applied to the translation of drillspindles7 lathe head, rotary turrets, and other like machine elementswherein the steady, strong.y smooth movement derived from theapplication of fluid pressure to a movable element aids greatly inobtaining th'.` accuracy and refinements characteristic of a modernmachine.

The general characteristics of a large rotary machine differ to a largeextent, however, from those of the above mentioned machines and theproblen'is obtaining are not those which are commonly encountered insuch prior adaptations of hydraulic means.

ln the present type of machine since the working spindles not onlyrotate but also re- MACHINE 153,177. Divided and this application filedMay 11. No. 276,846.

volve about a central column then the hydraulic actuating means mustalso revolve\ therewith. During this movement,`however,

a pressure fluid must be continuously supplied or exhausted, andfurther, since it is necessary that a certain cycle of translatorymovements occur without attention from the operator, a reliable andaccurate fluid control means must be provided.

The herein described invention discloses co such a construction andarrangement of the elementsof a rotary machine as to meet in a verypractical manner the 'difficulties and problems peculiar to a machine ofthat type an to result in a tool of that type possessing the advantagesinherent in hydraulic propulsion. The many featur-es contributing tothese general objects are described hereinafter and wherein will berevealed other and more specific objects and novel arrangements ofelements. Among these is to be noted the arrangement ofhydraulic'actuating cylinders which are horizontally positioned aboutthe central column with the inner ends of their axes extending adjacentthereto and having l5 suitable operating connections at their outer endsfor translating the` vertical spindles.

he result is a very compact organization with the center of mass at amuch lower point than would be obtained e. g., if the hydraulic eocylinders were vertically positioned at the Lipper end of the spindles.

Such an arrangement is further advantageous in that it permits of aunitary central control of simplified nature including a continuous camengaged by and constituting a direct valve actuating means ofcomparatively fewl parts.

The novel application of the fluid means y to the type of machine shownherein includes and has for its objects an arrangement whereby7 themachine is a complete power plant in itself. The only power applied isan inlet for an elastic fluid and a connection to a source of electriccurrent. The fluid means includes two pumps for circulating a hydrauliciuid at different pressures. These pumps are driven by an electricmotor. Two reservoirs are provided for the liquid and gaseous fluids.

All of these parts are mountl0@ liti that t ed on the head in closeproximity to the individual iuid motion for actuating the spindles. Asimple, complete hydraulic actuating system is thus carried by therotating head, practically independent of external pumps and suchdevices.

The objects also include the provision, in conjunction with the headhaving the various elements thereon which have been outlined of asupporting structure therefor designed to carry the unusual vertical andhorizontal loads in a very efficient manner and at the same time providea rigid supporting structure for the gearing for rotating the table andspindles. rIhe element-s are compactly and symmetrically arranged toresult in a smooth well balanced machine tool.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to ap rehend the underlyingfeatures hereof ey may embody the same in the various ways contemplatedby this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical constructionhave been annexed as a .part of this disclosure and, in such drawings,like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout allthe views, of which igure 1 is a vertical view chiefiy in section of acontinuous rotary machine tool. IFig. 2 is a plan view thereof showingthe symmetrical arrangement of the several units thereon. Fig 3 is adetail view of the fiuid pressure cylinder showing the rack means andother actuating membersrigidly connected to the differential piston. Fig. 4 is a view taken from the right of Fig. 3 but with the additionthereto of control means for the admission of fluid to the cylinder.Fig. 5 is a detached view of the cam adapted to control the actuation ofthe control means. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the fluid systemwith the valves positioned so as to give the tool its rapid forwardtraverse. Fig. is a similar view but with the valve means positioned togive the slow'working stroke and Fig. 8 shows the valves in the positionoccupied for quick return traverse.

The machine specifically disclosed herein is what may be generallytermed a continuous rotary machine tool and the general features qofwhich are a base l having rigid therewith ,a `vertical supporting column2 held thereon by the bolts 2 around which rotates the work table 3 andthe supporting head 4. The work table and supporting head are rigidlyconnected to rotate together by means of a cylindrically shaped member5.

l The head 4 is adapted to carry the individual power units 6, each ofwhich actuates a spindle 7 which is also rotatable and adapted to engagethe stock which is placed on the work table 3. Six of these unitssymmetrical- VThe rotation of shaft 9 is transferred to shaft lyarranged on the head are shown but the number may be varied inaccordance with the requirements of the work.

The normal operation of such a machine as is herein disclosed consistsgenerally of a rotary motion of the head and work table which iscontinuous and during which rotation the spindles 7 carrying tools aremoved vertically whereby the tools engage the work which is fastened byany suitable means on the table 3. The movements of the spindle arecontrolled by the mechanism to be described more in detail so that thetool performs its operation on the stock during one complete revolutionof the machine.

The means for rotating the members described comprises a gear 8 mountedon a stub shaft 9 and adapted to have power applied thereto from anysuitable source.

10 by suitable gearing 11. Mounted on shaft 10 is the gear 12 forengagement with the gear 13 mounted on a third shaft. At 14 is shown aclutch for selectively connecting the shaft 15 to be rotated thereby. 16and 17 are change gears for causing the rotation of the shaft 18 andthrough the yworm gearing 19 the vertical stub shaft 20.

Keyed on the stub shaft 2() is the gear 2l engaging with the gear 22which in turn engages with the large bull Wheel 23 rigidly connected tothe rotatable head and table.

The means for rotating the various indi-I vidual spindles 7 comprises abevel gear 25 mounted on the shaft 10 to be rotated thereby and meshingwith the bevel gear 26 rigidly mounted on the central shaft 27 which hasat its upper end the central gear 28 for imparting rotation to theindividual spindles. Such rotation is accomplished by the chain gearingcomprising gears 29, 3() and 31. The gear 31 is mounted on a stub shaft32 having at its lower end a small gear 33 for engagement with the gear34 mounted on the spindle The spindle 7 is splined in the gear 34thereby permit-ting vertical reciprocation of the spindle withoutinterrupting the rotation thereof by the gearing described. Reference toFig. 2 shows that the gear 29 simultaneously engages with two gears 30thus reducing the number of gears required.

As shown in Fig. 1 the vertical weight of the rotary members is carriedby the thrust bearing 35. The central column 2 also has the largebearing surfaces 36 and 36 to receive lateral forces and accuratelyposition the heavy rotary structure. Bearings 37 and 38 are provided atthe respective ends of the central vertical shaft 27.

Mounted on the central supporting column 2 in a horizontal manner is thestationary gear 39 held against rotation thereon by the pin 40. At 41 isshown a rotary shaft adapted to revolve around the fixed gear 39. Theshaft 41 has rigidly mounted thereon gear 13 42 for engagement with thegear 39 and the gear 43 for engagement with the gear 44. The gears 39and 44 are of the same size as also are the gears 42 and 43. Hence asthe shaft 41 revolves around the gear 49 and receives rotation therefromthe speed of the gear 43 will be such as to maintain the speed of thegear 44 the same as that of 39 or in other words in the arrangementshown, the gear 44 will remain stationary.

VThe gear 44 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 45 having also mountedthereon the double cam 46 which by the arrangement shown is adapted toremain stationary as the head revolves for a purpose to be laterdisclosed.

The hydraulic actuating means for the .spindles includes Series ofcylinders 48 secured by a bracket 48a to the under side of the largeplat-form plate 48". The cylinders are positioned horizontally and asshown substantially tangential to the cam plate 46. The angularity ofthe cylinders may be varied however, -to suit the particular conditionsobtaining. The units are all alike the elements of each including thecylinder 48 having therein the differential piston 49 adapted to'actuatethe piston rod 50 having thereon rack teeth 51 engaging the rack gear 52rotatable with the shaft 53 mounted for rotationin the housing 54.

A gear 55 is likewise normally rotatable with the shaft 53 and mesheswith a rack 56 on the spindle 7. At 57 is shown an index plate having aseries of holes 58 therein adapted to be selectively engaged by a pin inthe handlel 59 secured to the crank 60. The index plate and associatedelements constitute a means for adjusting the spindle -7 relative to thepiston shaft 50 whereby the extreme positions of the spindle 7 may bevaried without changing the range of translation of the spindle. Thenovel features of this arrangement are not included in the claims of thepresent application and therefore the brief description noted is deemedsufiicient the details thereof being more fully described in theaforementioned application Serial No. 153,177.

Connected to the outer end ofthe rack 51 is a bracket which in turn isconnected to a rcciprocatory member 76 having a sliding support in themember 77. The member 76 has supported thereon and rigid therewith a cam78 adapted to engage with a roller 79 and which roller is mounted on aslide member 80 mounted for reciprocation in the bracket 81. 1 The cam78 is adjustable along the member 76 by means of set screw 78. The bar80 carries at its outer end a latch 82 adapted to engage with one of thevalve stems for a purpose to be later described. The latch `82 isnormally held in an outer position by means of the compression spring83.

The means for supplying fluid pressure to the various cylinders will nowbe described in detail: Such means as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are alsomounted on the head 4 for rotation therewith. This means comprisesprimarily a reservoir 84A and a tank 86. The stationary cam 46hereinbefore referred to has extending from its upper surface a shaft 85which like cam 46 remains stationary during the revolution of the units.At the upper end of the shaft 85 are shown connections for bringing inelectrical current to be described more in detail.

Mounted on the reservoir 86 is an electric motor 87 adapted to drive thehigh pressure liquid pump 88 and the low pressure pump 89. The reservoir84 is adapted to be maintained under a constant pressure by admissionthereto of an elastic fluid which is admitted through the pipe 90 to thestationary cylindrical member 91. The cylindrical member 91 hassurrounding it a rotary cylinder 92 through which is connected thepipe-93 for leading elastic fluid to the reservoir 84. An annular grooveon the exterior of the stationary member 91 provides means for admittingsuch fluid to the pipe 93.

rlhe elastic fluid admitted through 90 to l pressure acting on thesmaller piston face when the pressure is relieved from the left end ofthel cylinder. Additional means are shown for supplying high pressureHuid to the left end of the cylinder, such means comprising the highpressure pump 88 heretofore mentioned which takes fluid from the tank 84through the pipe 95 and supplies said fluid through the pipe 96 whichhas branches leading to the various units. 'llhe fluid furnished by thispump is of a very much higher pressure than that supplied directly tothe units from the reservoir 84 and for the purpose principally ofcarrying the tool through its working stroke after the tool has beenbrought into engagement therewith by the from the upper .surface of thecam 46 may be seen the shaft 85 which will be rigid with the cam 46 andremain stationary. At the upper end of the shaft 85 is a conduit 97 forbringing in electrical current which passes there-through and is led outas shown 15..'

at 98 to the stationary distributor plate 99. The rotary plate 100 hasbrushes thereon engaging with the distributor plate 99 and the currentlis led therethrough into the motor 87.

The valve control means comprises two mainvalves 101 and 102, theformer'constituting the admission valve and the latter the exhaustvalve. The valve 101 has fixed on its stem three piston members sospaced as to form the annular grooves 103 and 104. The valvel member 102has two piston members thereon thereby forming the annular opening 105.rlhe valve 101 has at its inner end a roller 106 pivoted thereon toengage with the cam surface on the upper part of the cam 46. In asimilar manner the roller 107 attached to valve 102 engages a camsurface on thelower side of the cam 46. These valves are normally urgedto the right against the cam surfaces by means o-f the tension springs108. The valve 101 has projecting from its outer or right end a latchmember 109 adapted at certain times to be engaged by the slide 82hereinbefore referred to.

The fluid connections comprise a pipe 111 which leads from the reservoir84 and by means of the connection 112 is in constant communication withthe right end of the cylinder 48 whereby it acts constantly on thesmaller piston face therein. This pipe 111 has a branch 113 leading tothe valve 101. For certain positions of the valve to be described later,the fluid flows therethrough, through the valve 101. pipe 114, and pipe115 into the left end of the power cylinder.

, The pipe 96 leads from the high pressure i the sump 86.

The regulating valve 117, illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 6, 7 and8 as the restricted pipe y118, is adapted to be manually adjusted tovary the effective opening by means of the hand grip 121. "A speciallyconstructed type of regulating valve has been found best adapted for thefunctions to be performed but such specific construction does not form apart of the invent-ion claimed herein and the valve may be suicientlydesignated for the purposes of the present application as an adjustableopening regulating valve.

The stationary cam carrying Vmember 46 is shown more in detail in Fig. 5which is a view looking down thereon. The path of the roller thereoncomprises a high cam portion 131 for setting the valve 101to theposition shown in Fig. 6, a cut-in portion 132 and the longer camsurface 133. The under surface of the cam plate 46 is provided with camsurfaces 134 and 135 similar to the cam surfaces 132 and 133 on theupper surface. The cam surfaces on the lower side as well as thecorresponding positions of the roller 107 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to8 by dotted lines.

The operation of the fluid pressure actuating means can be more clearlyunderstood by referring to the diagrammatic Figs. 6, 7 andy 8 whichillustrate the three major positions of the valves. In. Fig. 6 thecylinder shown therein with its accompanying valve control means hasjust been rotated into the position whereby cam surface 131 has movedthe valve 101 into the farthest position to the left at which time thelatch 82, which has been held back by the projection 109 of the valve101, is released and jumps out in the path of the projection 109 holdingthe valve in the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position low pressurefluid flows from the reservoir 84 through the annular groove 104 in theupper valve and through pipes 114 and 115 into the left end of the powercylinder. Owing to the differential surfaces of thepiston exposedtherein the piston is caused to move rapidly to the right which is therapid traverse down to bring the tool into engagement with the work. Ata proper time the cam surface 78 connected to move with the pistonengages the roller 79 to move the slide 80 releasing the projecting end109 of the valve 101 whereby the valve is urged by spring 108 to theright. Since the cam 78 is adjustable along the member 76 this operationcan take place whenever desired. Cam 131 at this time has moved out ofengagement with the roller 106.

The valves are now so positioned that the fluid from the high pressurepump is led through the valve through the annular groove 103 into theleft end of the cylinder for moving the piston on its working stroke,the speed of this strokebeing controlled by means of the regulatingvalve 117 positioned in the pipe line 118 as shown in the main Figure 1but for reasons of making the diagrams lnore simple not shown in thediagrammatic view. As shown in Fig. 7 the connection for leading lowpressure fluid to the left end of the cylinder is now closed off bymeans of the middle piston on the stem of the valve 101.

Fig. 8 illustrates the position for the quick traverse return. In Figs.6 and 7 as may be seen the valve 102 has occupied a position to the leftbeing held in such a position by the cam surface 135. However' as shownin Fig. 8 this valve is now released whereby it is moved to the rightpermitting communication between the pipe 119 leading from the left end'of the power cylinder and the pipe 120 whereby exhaust takes place intothe sump 86.

`mum rate.

v89 may be any desirable type for furnishing a large volume of fluidsuch as an ordinary centrifugal pump.y The pump 88 must be a pumpcapable of supplying liquid at a very high pressure. However, the volumeof fluid furnished by this pump is exceedingly small as compared withthe low pressure pump 89. The high pressure pump as has been shown onlyfurnishes f liuid during the working stroke which in normal operation isbut a very small portion of the total movement of the piston. Also theworking stroke would be relatively slow as compared with the quicktraverse forward and quick return traverse. The high pressure pump maybe of any known type such as a gear pump designed to furnish highpressures.

As may be evident if it were not for the two systems that is the low andhigh pressures shown herein a pump orv some other means would have tobey supplied for furnishing fluid at the maximum pressure as well as themaxi- 'lhe high pressure fluid would often be 1,000 lbs. per square inchor even higher in certain types of machines. Hence it would be anextremely wasteful method to furnish the fluid for moving the piston onits quick traverse at the unnecessary high pressure required during theworking stroke.

The advantages and saving which might be accomplished in any singlemachine are multiplied several times in a machine of the type shownherein. The fluid required to be furnished `for a single unit machinewould probably be several gallons per minute. Since the major portion ofthis is furnished at a comparatively low pressure, an enormous saving isaccomplished even in the actuation of a single unit, this beingmultiplied six-fold in the continuous rotary machine shown here- 1n.

Thewhole fluid system is mounted in avery compact and a substantialmanner on the upper part of the head, such comprising a completehydraulic system practically independent of exterior pumps and powermeans except for the connection to the air pressure line or otherelastic fluid and the lead-in for the electrical current.

The radial arrangement of the cylinders and the general relation of theassociated elements results in a very compact well balanced organizationwith the weight brought closer to the central axis and at as low a pointvertically as possible. centrally mounted and of a unitary construeetion is much simplified and positive and reliable in its action.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefor, such adaptations should be, and arevintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims Having thus revealed this invention, I claim asnew and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, orequivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States l. A machinetool combining a supporting column; a head rotatably mounted thereon; amachine element mounted on said head and adapted to be translatedrelative thereto; a fluid motor mounted on said head for causingtranslation of said element; a stationary gear mounted on the column;cam means mounted on said head for rotation relative thereto; controlmeans for said motor adapted to contact with said cam means as the headrotates; and mechanism carried by said head and connecting said gearwith said cam means where* by the cam is maintained stationary while thehead and control means rotate thereabout and the fluid motor is causedto actuate said element. f

- 2.. In a machine tool, a supporting column; a head mounted forrotation thereon; a machine element adapted to carry a working toolmounted on said head for translation relative thereto; a fluid pressureactuating motor therefor carried by said head; a member having camsurfaces centrally mounted on said head; means for holding said camymember stationary as the head rotates; and inlet and exhaust valves forsaid -motor mounted on said head and having members connecte-d to thevalves adapted to contact with said stationary cam surfaces whereby saidmotor is caused to'aetuate said machine element asV the head rotates.

3. A machine tool combining a central stationary column; a reducedcylindrical portion at the upper end thereof and forming an annularshoulder adapted to serve as a bearing for vertical loads; a cylindricalmember; a head supported at the upper end thereof; a laterallyprojecting work table at the lower end of said member, the cylindricalmember, head and table being rigidly connected together and mounted torotate on said column, said reduced portion and shoulder formingbearings for said rotary members; a plurality The control means being yof spindles mounted on said head to revolve therewith; uid pressuremeans mounted on said head to rotate therewith for translating saidspindles; a stationary gear mounted on the upper end of said reducedportion; a gear mounted in said head; mechanism connecting said twogears whereby the latter is maintained stationary while the headrotates; control means for said luid pressure means; and meansvfixed tothe gear in the head for actuating said control means as the headrotates.

4. A machine tool combining support; a

head mounted for rotation thereon; a spindle carried by said head; fluidpressure means carried by said head for translating said spindle;valvemeans therefor movable to successive positions to control theoperative cycle of said means and thereby the movement of the spindle;cam means operative in accordance with the rotation of said head forcontrolling the initial position of said valve means; and meansoperative in accordance with the translation of the spindle forcontrolling succeeding positions ofthe valve means.

5. A continuous rotary machine tool combining a support; a head mountedfor continuous rotation thereon; a member carried by said head andadapted to be operated through a cycle of translatory movements; andmeans carried entirely by said head for translating said membercomprising a hydraulic motor, a low pressure hydraulic fluid supplymeans, a pump for supplying high pressure hydraulic fluid, meansoperated in timed relation with the rotation of said head to admit saidlow pressure hydraulic fluid for the initial translation of said member,and means subsequently operated in accordance with the translation ofsaid member to control the admission of said high pressure hydraulicfluid.

6. A machine tool combining a support; a

` head mounted for rotation thereon; a spindle translatably carried bysaid head; a hydraulic motor for translating said spindle; control valvemeans for said motor; cam means for moving said valve means to aninitial position, said valve means being rotatable with said head andrelative to said cam means whereby said initial position is accomplishedin timed relation with the rotation of said head; impositive means forurging said valve means from said initial position; interference meansfor restraining said valve means against said impositive means; andmeans operated in accordance with the translation of said s indle fortripping said interference means or controlling succeeding positions ofsaid valve means.

7. A continuous rotary machine tool combining a support; a head mountedfor continuous rotation thereon; a plurality of members carried by saidhead and adapted ually controlling the subsequent admission of highpressure fluid to each of said motors in accordance with the movement ofthe respective member.

8. A machine tool combining a supporting column; a head rotatablymounted thereon; a machine element mounted on said head and adapted tobe translated relative thereto; a fluid motor mounted on said head forcausing translation of said element; a gear mounted on said column; cammeans rotatively mounted on.said head; a rst gear stal tionarily mountedon said column; a second gear meshing therewith mounted to revolve withsaid head; connecting gearing between said lirst and second gearingwhereby a relative rotation between said head and cam is produced byrotation of said head; and cony trol means for said motor adapted tocontact with said cam means as the head rotates.

In witness whereof, I hereunto vsubscribe my name.

ADOLPH L. DE LEEUW.

